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GAO To Look At FAA's Oversight

Congressmen James Oberstar, (D-MN)
and Peter DeFazio, (D-OR) want a closer look at regional airline
safety, in the wake of the January, 2003 crash of an Air Midwest
Beechcraft 1900 just after it departed the runway at Charlotte
Douglas International Airport.

The NTSB blames the accident on poor mechanical work done by a
Raytheon subcontractor, as well as problems with the aircraft's
weight and balance. Maintenance was also blamed for the downing of
a Colgan Air flight off Cape Cod (MA) eight months later.

While regional airlines like Air Midwest and Colgan have to
follow the same general guidelines as do major carriers, their
maintenance is inferior, according to the two congressmen.
Mechanics who work for the regionals make about 55 percent less
money than do their counterparts at the majors, they said. The
Charlotte Observer reports, while regional airlines carry only 37
percent of the nation's passenger traffic, they account for 67
percent of the FAA's maintenance actions.

DeFazio and Oberstar said in their letter requesting an
investigation of the FAA's regional airline oversight, even in the
wake of 9/11, "It is incumbent on us to ensure that appropriate
attention and resources are being applied to aviation safety."

In reply, the Regional Airline Association issued a statement to
ANN, saying its members provide "the highest level of safety for
passengers and employees."